Every person suffers from diarrhea at some point. Loose and regular bowel movements are the main signs that a person is suffering from diarrhea. In normal cases, diarrhea lasts for few days. However, in case this lasts for more time it indicates the presence of a more serious disorder like inflammatory bowel diseases and irritable bowel syndrome. Signs and symptoms of Diarrhea Some of the key signs and symptoms of diarrhea include loose and watery stools, cramps in the abdomen, blood in the stool and urgent need of having a bowel movement. In case these symptoms persist treatment from a doctor should be sought. In addition to these, the assistance of doctor should be sought when diarrhea persists beyond two days; a person becomes dehydrated; a person has severe abdominal pain, the stools are bloody and black, and the fever is above 102 F. Causes of Diarrhea Diarrhea is caused by numerous disease conditions including: Virus infection Virus infection also causes diarrhea. Some of the virus which causes diarrhea includes viral hepatitis, Norwalk virus, and cytomegalovirus. In addition to this rotavirus also cause acute diarrhea in children. Bacteria and Parasites Contaminated food or water can also result in diarrhea symptoms in human beings. In addition, the presence of parasites as Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia also cause diarrhea. Bactria as campylobacter, salmonella and Escherichia coli also result in diarrhea. Lactose intolerance Lactose is a natural sugar which is found in dairy products and milk. People who are not able to digest lactose suffer from diarrhea when they eat any of the dairy products. Treatment of Diarrhea In most cases, diarrhea gets better in few days on its own, but severe diarrhea treatment might need medical intervention. Natural Cure for Diarrhea Natural remedies that provide severe diarrhea treatment can be tried for curing diarrhea as these also help in the effective treatment of basic causes of diarrhea.

Gout is one of the most frequently recorded medical conditions over the past years and throughout the history. A kind of arthritis, gout is caused when uric acid crystallizes in the body, and these crystals accumulate in joints. This happens when the body produces too much uric acid or fails to remove it, which results in increased levels of uric acid in the body. The uric acid crystals deposited in the joints cause an attack of sudden burning pain, stiffness or swelling (usually in the big toe). There are several cures for gout. Symptoms of gout The symptoms of gout include: Sudden increasing pain in the affected joint Heat in the afflicted area Joint swelling A reddish bruise or coloring on the skin Joint tenderness These painful spells can last for hours, days, or sometimes weeks. Usually, this swelling or stiffness involves joints in the lower extremities, but severe gout can affect many joints at once. This is known as polyarticular gout. The painful attacks may frequently repeat, which can harm the joints, tendons and other muscle tissues in the afflicted area. The presence of a tophus, a hard nodule of uric acid deposit under the skin, is another sign of gout. Tophi indicates a substantial overload of uric acid levels in the body. Cures for Gout At the onset of gout, when the pain attacks are mild and infrequent, dietary and lifestyle changes must be made right away. This can be an effective way to treat gout. Guidelines to be followed are: Maintain high fluid intake – 2-4 liters a day Maintain a healthy body weight Eat a balanced diet – avoid fish, meat, and poultry Avoid alcohol But if the condition becomes severe, medications are necessary to lower the uric acid content. There are three approaches to medicinal cures for gout.

Shingles Medications and Treatment Shingle is an infectious disease which causes a painful rash. It is equally important to know the signs of shingles before taking any medication. Shingles in, ordinary cases, are characterized by an unpleasant feeling in some areas of skin and a headache which usually turns severe. After a few days of pain, a rash also appears on the skin. Shingles first appear on the face, eyes or the genital area but can also be seen in other regions. It is important to remember here that the shingles appear as red marks on one side of the body only. Any redness on both the sides of the body is not likely to be shingles. The shingles rash also appears in the form of a band on one side of the body. The pain in the area remains even when the rash has disappeared. Shingles can be cured by using painkillers which ease the pain. A person should keep the rashes clean and dry as this reduces the risk of infection in case of shingles. Loose fitting clothes should be worn and calamine lotion must be applied to ease the problem of itching. Using a cold compress or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel few times in a day can help you get relief in case of shingles. Shingles usually heal in 4 weeks. The skin is likely to pain for up to a week after rashes have vanished, but it eventually gets better with time. You can use medications to reduce the incidence of Shingles.There are some medications which can be used to treat shingles. While some singles medications are used to treat infectious conditions which are caused due to certain viruses, some cure sores around the mouth and shingles alike. Most shingles medications are antiviral drugs that are known to decrease the severity of shingles.

A seizure is a brief episode of abnormal brain activity. Seizures are also called epileptic seizures or fits. During a seizure, there is a burst of excessive or synchronous brain activity. This abnormal brain activity can manifest in many ways. A disorder in which a person has more than one unprovoked seizure is called epilepsy. An unprovoked seizure is one that is not triggered by a specific cause of low blood sugar, poisoning, infections, etc. Epilepsy is diagnosed by first ruling out other similar disorders like fainting or non-epileptic attacks and external causes such as a drug overdose, low oxygen saturation, alcohol, infections, etc. It is estimated that 1% of the global population is affected by epilepsy and 5-10% of the population will have a seizure by the time they’re 80. Epilepsy responds well to treatment in 70% of patients. In patients who have an inadequate response to treatment, seizures can be controlled by dietary changes, management of external stressors, surgery, or neurostimulation. In some cases, with adequate treatment, seizures can be reduced in frequency and severity over time. Types Of Seizures The majority of seizures are convulsive. Non-convulsive seizures are rarer and less likely to be detected since they last for a very short period of time. The difference between convulsive and nonconvulsive seizure is how much of the brain is involved in seizure generation. If both hemispheres are involved, then the seizure is said to be generalized . If the seizure originates from a particular region of the brain but does not include the entire brain, it is said to be a partial seizure. Generalized Seizure A generalized seizure is further classified into: Tonic-Clonic, Tonic, Clonic, Absence, Myoclonic, and Atonic. Absence seizures last for about 10-30 seconds and are characterized by a loss of attention and a decreased level of consciousness.

Constipation is a condition that involves difficulty in passing stools. Hardening of stool and decrease in the frequency of passing stool is also noticed. Sometimes, episodes of constipation can occur in between diarrhea as well. When constipated, the stools are hardened, and it becomes difficult for it to pass through your rectum. Causes of constipation Your diet plays an important role in the functioning of your body, and the same goes for constipation and its treatment. Consuming foods that are rich in fats and dairy products causes constipation. Inadequate consumption of foods that are rich in fiber is also a major cause. Water is something you shouldn’t compromise. Drinking eight to ten glasses of water on a daily basis is a must. Inadequate consumption of water can cause your stools to harden. Your colon needs water to keep the stools soft as well. Drinking a lot of water is also one of the treatments for constipation. Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to dehydration. These drinks make you pass urine frequently, due to which your intestines begin to absorb moisture. This causes you to get constipated. Sometimes, constipation is caused when you delay or ignore your bowel movements. Ignoring the desire to have bowel movements may initiate a cycle of constipation. This is true for people who hold back their stools because they don’t like using the public toilet. This shouldn’t be the case as it can lead to progressive constipation if repeated often. Medications can cause constipation too. Painkillers, iron tablets and a few narcotic drugs can suppress bowel function, leading to constipation. Laxatives help induce bowel movements and loosen the stool, but using this can make your bowel lose its sensitivity. You might become too dependent on these laxatives, and it can have a negative effect on you, that is constipation.

Is your skin itchy, inflamed, flaky or scaly? You are probably headed toward developing psoriasis! Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the skin that ranges from mild to severe. Those affected by chronic psoriasis develop scaly patches on their skin that are inflamed, itchy, and painful. Depending on the symptoms, psoriasis is classified into various types. Chronic psoriasis treatment is based on the symptoms and the extent to which it has spread. Like all autoimmune diseases, there is no specific cause for chronic psoriasis. Contributing factors for chronic psoriasis are mental stress and anxiety, low self-esteem, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors. Chronic psoriasis treatment depends on the severity of the condition and aims at alleviating the associated symptoms. Common symptoms of psoriasis Psoriasis occurs due to changes that occur beneath the skin rather than on the skin. Although psoriasis is classified into different types based on appearance and symptoms, the following are the common symptoms: Red patches on the skin Scaly, silvery patches Itchy skin Swelling of joints, stiffness or pain If you need information on psoriasis and its symptoms, you should know that they are specific to the type of psoriasis. Types of chronic psoriasis Classifying chronic psoriasis helps in deciding the line of treatment. For some only one type of psoriasis exists, whereas for others a combination of two or more types may exist. In some cases, once the symptoms of existing psoriasis wear away, a new type may develop in response to a trigger. There are 7 types of psoriasis as listed below: Plaque psoriasis – Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of chronic psoriasis. It is also referred to as psoriasis vulgaris. It is characterized by raised, inflamed, reddish skin covered by silvery white scales. It causes itching and burning sensations. Elbow, lower back, scalp, and knees are common places where plaque psoriasis occurs.

An allergic reaction is often a result of detection of a foreign substance that is harmful to the immune system. As a reaction to these allergens, the immune system reacts with symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and inflammation. If the allergy is mild then it can be treated with the help of over-the-counter medications and home remedies. However, if the allergy is chronic, then it requires medical intervention. In case the allergy is severe then it might need emergency medical care. The following allergy treatment options can help in reducing allergies or managing them. Nasal decongestants Sinuses, sore throats or coughing can be treated with nasal decongestants. There are pills, sprays, and liquids that are used to help with swollen and stuffy sinuses. However, these nasal decongestants should not be taken for more than 72 hours continuously. They are one of the most popular allergy treatment options. Often times, due to allergy, you might not be able to breathe and these nasal decongestants will clear the nasal track and ensure normal breathing. Saline sinus rinse The sinuses can be rinsed with saline in order to clear the way and remove the allergens. Here is a method recommended by the AAAAI for preparing the saline rinse. Take 3 tablespoons of salt without iodine and mix well with 1 tablespoon of boiled water. Next, add one tablespoon of this mixture to 8 ounces of hot water. Then dissolve this mixture in water and use as a saline. The saline gets rid of all the allergens and reduces the symptoms of allergy. You can also buy sinus rinsing devices from a pharmacy or online. If the allergy does not recede, then you are advised to see a doctor for further treatment. Immunotherapy Some allergies are not completely relieved by treatments and so the doctors might suggest allergen immunotherapy.

Toenail fungus or toe fungus is an infection of toenails that is contagious. If the toenail fungus starts in one nail of the toe, it can spread to the other toenails as well. Usually, dermophytes, a fungi group, is responsible for onychomycosis or toenail infection. This fungi group thrives on keratin which is the main component of nails and hair. When the fungus starts to grow, the patient’s nails get discolored and turn yellow, brown, or white. Eventually, the affected nails might harden, thicken, become brittle, and can even fall off. The treatment for toenail fungus can last for several weeks to several months. Various medications are available to deal with this contagious infection. However, it is always advisable to take medicines under the guidance of healthcare professionals as these medications might have several side effects depending on the person’s medical history. Here is a list of some of the most effective home remedies to treat a toenail fungus. Vinegar You can find vinegar in almost every household. It is a common cooking ingredient in a few cuisines. However, in some cases, you will discover this item in some home cleaning solutions as well. Although there is no clinical evidence to prove vinegar’s effectiveness in treating toenail fungus, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to support its potential for curing this condition. Mix vinegar in a bowl of warm water. Now, soak your infection-affected toe in this mixture. The ratio of water to vinegar should be 2:1. Baking soda Various medical reports have shown that baking soda helps in soaking up excess moisture, which is one of the leading causes of toenail fungus. While doing a medical study, researchers found that baking soda can effectively prevent the growth of normal fungi by a considerable amount. One of the easiest ways to use baking soda is to put it inside your shoes and socks so that it can soak up the moisture.

A migraine is a very painful, often a debilitating, form of a headache. It can be either episodic or chronic. Usually, the episodic migraine lasts for hours and several weeks to months can pass between two migraine episodes. However, chronic migraine symptoms not only last longer but also occur more frequently. If you have a chronic migraine, you will probably suffer from throbbing headaches at least 15 days a month. These severe and frequent attacks can make it difficult for you to live a normal life. An episodic migraine is much more common than a chronic one. Various medical research reports have shown that some people who suffer from an episodic migraine can eventually develop the symptoms of a chronic migraine! According to medical studies, 0.5% of men and 1.3% of women in the country experience chronic migraine symptoms. Other than taking medications, some healthy lifestyle changes can also help one in dealing with the symptoms of a chronic migraine. Here is a list of the symptoms along with some effective treatments for a chronic migraine. Chronic Migraine Symptoms Having chronic migraine is nowhere similar to having just a simple headache. In reality, it is much more than that! A chronic migraine may include the following symptoms: Vomiting Nausea Feeling dizzy Auras, which means seeing shadows, colors, lines, or flashing lights Tingling in the hands, feet, and face. These symptoms are accompanied by severe pain! While having it, one can also find the sounds, touch, smell, and bright lights very painful. Most of the times, the episodic migraine symptoms are almost similar to the chronic migraine symptoms. However, the major difference is in how frequently these attacks are occurring. According to the medical experts, this chronic migraine can be triggered by different factors. Sometimes, it runs in families. Sometimes, it happens due to the changes in the brain chemicals.

Thick and voluminous hair seems like an elusive dream for most of us. Thinning hair and hair fall affect both men and women of all ages. Thinning hair or hair loss can occur due to a variety of reasons. Emotional stress, hormonal changes, unhealthy eating habits, side effects of medication and harsh hair treatment are some of the common reasons for thinning hair. Consultation with a dermatologist can help find the cause of thinning hair and help find the right thinning hair products. Using the most suitable thinning hair products and making appropriate lifestyle changes can help treat thinning hair and hair loss. Causes of thinning hair Before moving on to thinning hair products, it helps in understanding the various causes of thinning hair in order to find the right fit. Hair loss not only affects the scalp but the entire body as well. The common causes of thinning hair are as follows: Family history: People who have a family history of thinning hair are potential candidates for thinning hair or hair fall. Thinning hair usually occurs with aging in men and women. Receding hairline and bald patches in men, and thinning hair in women are very common. Hormonal changes: Pregnancy and menopause in women are phases where hormonal changes occur. During these phases, women are likely to experience thinning hair. Women with thyroid problems are also likely to have thinning hair. Scalp infections: Scalp infections such as dandruff, oily scalp or dermatitis also cause thinning hair and hair loss. Medical conditions: Health conditions like alopecia areata causes hair loss in patches. Scalp infections also cause hair thinning. Medication and supplements: Side effects of certain medication could lead to thinning hair. Consuming health supplements is another reason for hair loss. Radiation and chemotherapy: Radiation and chemotherapy are treatments for cancer.

Usually, the pain that lasts at least for 12 weeks is defined as chronic pain. It can be intermittent or steady. It can come and go without any apparent reason. It can be felt dull or sharp, causing an aching or burning sensation in the affected areas. Also, the pain can be felt differently in the affected areas. Lack of proper chronic pain management can reduce your strength, endurance, flexibility along with limiting your mobility. This definitely makes your daily life more challenging as it becomes difficult to get through various daily activities and tasks. According to various medical study reports, almost 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from this chronic pain. In the country alone, almost 100 million people are affected by this pain. Here is a list of some of the common types of chronic pain: Postsurgical pain Headache Arthritis pain Post-trauma pain Neurogenic pain that is caused by any damage in the nerve Lower back pain Psychogenic pain that is not caused by an injury, nerve damage, or any disease Cancer pain Causes of Chronic Pain Without realizing the underlying causes of the pain, treating it or getting the right chronic pain management plan will be tough. Here is a list of some of the most common causes of it: Sometimes, normal aging can affect the joints and bones, causing chronic pain. Nerve damage or nerve injuries that have not been healed properly are another cause of this pain. Some types of chronic pain can have more than one influencing factor. For instance, back pain can be caused by either a single factor or can be caused by any combination of the following factors: Poor posture for years Being overweight that puts extra strain on the knees and back Carrying heavy objects or improper lifting of heavy objects Traumatic injury Degenerative changes in the spine due to normal aging Wearing high heels Any congenital condition like spine curvature Sleeping on the poor mattress Diseases like osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis can cause chronic pain.

A hernia is a condition where an internal body part pushes into an area where it doesn’t belong. The hiatus is an opening in the muscular wall which separates the chest cavity from the abdomen called the diaphragm. It is through the hiatus that the esophagus (food pipe) attaches itself to the stomach. The stomach bulges up into the chest through that opening in a hiatal hernia (also called hiatus hernia). There are two types of a hiatal hernia, sliding hiatal hernias and fixed or paraesophageal hernias. When your stomach and esophagus slide into and out of your chest through the hiatus, it is known as a sliding hiatal hernia. This condition is relatively common, and usually, doesn’t cause any symptoms. This type of hernia may not even require treatment. In a fixed hiatal hernia, a part of your stomach pushes through your diaphragm and stays there. This condition is not dangerous in most cases. However, if the blood flow to your stomach is blocked, then it could cause damage. Following are some treatment options for a hiatal hernia: Lifestyle and dietary changes A hiatal hernia occurs most commonly in people who are overweight or obese. Losing weight relieves the abdominal pressure that promotes herniation. Even though this won’t necessarily reverse a hernia, it may prevent a mild hernia from developing into a grave paraesophageal hernia. Consuming a low-fat and high fiber diet helps normalize bowel function and relieves constipation that contributes to herniation. Eating high-fiber foods is the most effective treatment for a hiatal hernia. Proper hydration can further reduce the risk of constipation and dilute the concentration of acid in the stomach. So, one must ensure that they drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Whatever your age may be, you should avoid trigger foods like red meat, fried foods, spicy foods, whole-fat dairy products, tomato-based sauces, citric foods, carbonated drinks, caffeine, alcohol, and excessive salt.